Walnut's Comeback Falls Short in 28-20 Decision

WALNUT- Walnut’s Sal Quintanilla accounted for all three of the Mustang’s scores, but it was not enough as the visiting Esperanza Aztecs escaped with a 28-20 result Thursday evening.

Quintanilla scored on runs of 13 and 1 yard and added a 12-yard scoring pass to junior receiver Demetrius Stampley.

Esperanza struck first as it was gifted very good position when it forced Walnut to punt after its initial possession. Quintanilla was not able to secure the snap cleanly and was downed deep in Mustangs territory.

Esperanza’s Jesse Duensing scored two plays later from 19 yards out to give the Aztecs a 7-0 lead. Duensing finished with 187 yards on 25 carries with three scores. Aaron Foresgren added 40 yards on 8 carries. Duensing found the endzone again on the subsequent drive, this time from a yard out.

“You just gotta do your job on defense,” Walnut head football coach Eric Peralta said of trying to stop Deunsing. “You have to be able to be stout up front and put 11 hats on the football. (Deunsing) is a good running back. He ran hard. Ran behind that big offensive line and found little seams. He’s got good vision and cut-back ability.”

Walnut (1-1) took the ensuing kickoff and promptly marched down the field culminating in a 12 yard scoring pass from Quintanilla to Stampley.

After a scoreless third quarter, Quintanilla found the endzone again but this time on a 13-yard keeper. The 2-point conversion was successful to tie the game at 14-14.

The Aztecs (1-1) responded on the following drive when David Lua found Edward Khutsishvili in the endzone with a 10-yard touchdown pass.

Walnut took the ensuing kickoff deep into Esperzana territory and immediately capitalized on it. Quintanilla scored his second rushing touchdown from a yard out. Walnut went for the 2-point conversion but was unsuccessful.

Duensing was the featured back on Esperanza’s final drive, including a fourth down conversion to extend the drive, and then scoring the go-ahead touchdown to put the game away.

Walnut Visits Los Altos next Thursday. Kickoff is at 7pm